São Paulo is the second largest city in the world. There are almost 15 milion people living in it. São Paulo is also the most important city in Latin America. With its 5 milion cars, the city has one of the worst traffic jams in the world. We recommend you to visit São Paulo during school vacations (July, December and January). In SP you certainly have a lot of things to do. Just check them out (click on the pictures to see them on original size):
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Paulista avenue is the main postcard of São Paulo. It´s the most important street of the city. There are many modern buildings. On Paulista av. you can also visit the most important museum of Latin America, MASP (São Paulo´s Art Museum) and a beautiful park: Parque Siqueira Campos, known as Trianon Park. TIP: You should visit Paulista av. on Sundays and take a walk.
MASP is Latin America´s most important museum. It was founded in 1947 but in other place. It moved to Paulista Avenue in 1968. It has one of the richest heaps in the world with nearly 5000 works of artists from everywhere of the world. It closes on Mondays.
Museu Paulista is a museum mostly known as Museu do Ipiranga because it´s placed beside Ipiranga river, where was declared the Independence of Brazil in 1822. It is also a very important museum because of its works about the Independence and facts of the epoch. It closes on Mondays.
Ibirapuera Park is the biggest park of the city. Everyday a lot of people go there to do some jogging or skating, to ride a bike, to practice some sports, to take a sun bath or just to get closer to nature. It has a beautiful lake. With an area of 1.6 milion square meters, this park was planned and founded on January 25 1954, when São Paulo completed its 500th anniversary. Inside it, you can visit MAM (Modern Art Museum) and the Planetarium. Open everyday.
Playcenter is São Paulo´s most popular amusement park. There are a lot of attractions including 3 great roller coasters. It´s very cheap and it closes on Mondays and Tuesdays. For smaller kids, two good amusement parks are: Parque do Gugu and Parque da Mônica. You should also visit São Paulo Zoo and Simba Safari (where you can enter in a kind of jungle by car and caress the animals).
Memorial da América Latina is a museum that offers some works of Latin American artists. You can learn about the culture of these countries. There are also some free music shows on weekends. It closes on Mondays.
Terraço Italia is the tallest building in São Paulo. At the last floor ( 50th floor ) there is a very famous restaurant where you can have one of the most beautiful seeings of the city. It is more beautiful at night, so having dinner in Terraço Italia really worth it. But don´t forget it is an expensive restaurant, so be ready to spend at least US$50 per person for a perfect dinner.
The most famous and beautiful cathedral of the city. Catedral da Sé is a gothic style church very similar to the French churches of the same style. Inside it, you can see the biggest pipe organ of the world with more than 10000 pipes. You can also visit its crypt (Sun 2.30 to 4.30 pm). The church opens everyday from 7 am to 6.30 pm.
Teatro Municipal de São Paulo is the most important theater of the city. It was founded in 1911 and built in baroque style. It is a very beautiful building but it can´t be visited, save if you are going to watch a play (of course).
Property of São Paulo FC team, this soccer stadium, named Estádio Cícero Pompeu de Toledo but known as Estádio do Morumbi, is the biggest particular stadium in the world. It tolerated 170000 people in it, but for security it now supports 100000 people. It´s a very interesting visit. You can also visit Pacaembu Stadium, the municipal one.
São Paulo is one of the best places to enjoy the night in the whole world. The city is very famous due its great restaurants and has won a lot of prizes as "The best place to eat in the world". There are also many night clubs and discos for all ages. São Paulo is the best city to do some shopping in Brazil. There are lots of shopping centers where you can do shopping, go to the cinema, etc.
São Paulo Tower, the tallest building in the world. São Paulo Tower is not finished already. The building is going to be finished in 2004 to become the world´s tallest building. It is going to be constructed in city´s downtown.
We hope you enjoy São Paulo and Brazil.
